At some point after a flood we can return home, oh boy! The work starts right away, can you imagine?

I will write today's blog around returning home after an evacuation due to flooding.
  When a disaster forces us to leave our homes, and after a time we are able to return home,

The heartbreak is not over, the work is about to begin.

precautions must be taken into account to keep safe. Especially in a flood situation the threat of mold, contaminated water, spoiled food and critters crawling around your house are all very real concerns. Here's some things we should pay attention to:
  * If you suffer an injury during the evacuation have it tended to medically. Dirty environments, rusty metals, slivers and wet foot issues are a few. The water will be contaminated and capable of harboring germs and bacteria's, wash your hands frequently, change your socks when wet, if you are cut get a tetanus shot. The dirty water will cause infections. For flood water precautions from OSHA click here.
  * Do not enter the structure if you smell gas, call 911, or your utility provider. Turn off your main gas shutoff valve, if that stops the odor there is a problem in your structure. If the odor does not stop there is a problem in the supply line to your dwelling.
  * Do not eat food that you are not completely sure is safe, in fact if the evacuation was due to a flood don't eat any food that was in contact with water, wrapped or not. Your water has to be treated as if it is also contaminated, if you have a well it most definitely is contaminated. The water in your tap is as well. Boiling all your water before consumption is the best way to make your water safe.

It's real, it happens and it gives me the creeps, walk your
house with a flashlight before getting comfortable.

* Don't go downstairs into a basement or other enclosed area prior to testing the atmosphere for poisonous gases and turning off the electrical power. Check for creepy crawlers with a flashlight after first entry, snakes, turtles and fish are a few we may encounter.
  * Wear rubber boots, don't let floodwater touch your skin. Do not deal with mold unless you have protective clothing on. Clean mold (starting as soon as possible after entry) with one cup of bleach in one gallon of water. Scrubbing with a stiff brush, rinsing with clear water then allowing it to dry completely. Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles, leave doors and windows open, ventilate the spaces with fans.
  * If you are using a generator, pressure washer, grills or any other piece of portable equipment locate them away from doors and windows. The exhaust can enter your space and create a deadly toxic environment. Remember, carbon monoxide is heavier than air it will find the lowest spot to gather. A basement or cellar are common areas, garages, sheds, crawl spaces and ditches or holes are some dangerous spots. It is best to have a working CO2 detector set up in your home as soon as you are able to enter.
  * If you heat your home with an alternate energy source like a pellet stove or a wood burning stove, check it out prior to starting it. Be certain it is venting out of doors properly, the smoke from them is deadly as well. Do not use a gas or kerosene heater if it is not vented outdoors, never use a
bar-b-que indoors as they cannot be vented out.  Iowa state university has an interesting web site on venting appliances here.
  * Avoid insects, wild animals and strays, they will all be stressed causing them to be more unpredictable than normally. Bury dead animals when you see them, or call the health department of your locality, cholera is a very real threat from contaminated water.
  * Exercise caution when driving (if it's possible to drive.) in a flood most cars will be in non working order. People tend to be more careless when under stress, look both ways before crossing a street and wear your seat belt when driving.
  * Use the first few hours after you return home to inspect everything in and around your home, use it as a discovery period. Keep a list and prioritize most important to least and work off the list. Do not

Some lines are 15,000 volts, if you are in your car don't touch any
steel parts, wait for help, don't touch the wires, don't step on them.

touch any downed wires, don't take someone's word "that's just a phone line." Don't touch it, I saw a teenage boy (in a training film) lift a power line while standing on a mobile home that was being moved. Some one on the ground hollered "it's OK it won't hurt you." Well it was the last thing he ever did.
   I've listed just a few things to pay attention to, it is not close to being a complete list or even close. The period of discovery will reveal issues you never dreamed could happen, that's why we look. Thanks for reading, I hope there is at least one item here you have never thought of before. Leave a comment or story of an experience in a flood or other disaster. Fema has an informative web site dealing with flooding disasters, click here.

Thanks jimandkate

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